Posted on 02/16/2008 7:03:06 PM PST by unspun
To correct your post, an Arkansas governor cannot pardon anyone.
My response in post #142 proved clearly that the governor can pardon.
Now you change your choice of words in your reply in post #167 states,
"The Arkansas governor cannot parole anyone. He can commute and pardon..
Quit twisting words to make the Huckster appear to unknowlwdgeable voters that he's the nation's answer to conservatism. Beyond being a social conservative on two or three issues on many more conservative issues, he's as liberal as any democrat. I think we Christian conservatives in Arkansas know the Huckster a lot better than someone from Wisconsin that feels compelled to shill for him in a losing battle. You'll figure it out sooner or later, just like we did, that the Huckster is just out for himself and a government paycheck. He will not do the GOP party any good in the long run. We need conservative candidates that have a proven record on social, fiscal, and security-related matters, not just promises, talk, and pandering.
My, how easy it seems to be for some, to try to impugn motives, for not only Mike Huckabee, but apparently anyone who supports him.
I made (follow along, here, man) a mistate. It's parole, not pardon. An Arkansas governor cannot parole, but he can pardon -- and either three or four times, Huckabee denied pardon to Dumond.
People who have looked into Mike Huckabee's positions and behavior, compared to most Democrats know better. Thus, for them to say it, is a lie.
Further, for someone who believes Democrats' positions tend to be problematic, compared to Republicans' postitions and who is trying to thereby discredit someone, it is not only a lie, but libel (slander, written down).
Oh, puh-leeze. This "Compassionate Conservate" [sic] nonsense is old-style leftism in an elephant suit.
When a governor actually governs in the interests of his state's people -- I mean when he governs conservatively and effectively, in the people's interest, he will still encounter the antipathy of some of the conservatives whether they are Christian or not. The more extremist and doctrinaire, the more likely they will be angered by that governor.
First, I don't see who you are quoting here with your quote. Secondly, it is not "leftism" to be compassionate and to be conservative, though there are some who might think so.
Hucklebee doesn’t believe in evolution, and is vocal about it.
That means 0.0% chance of winning a general election. I know that’s a sore spot for many on this forum, but that’s the bottom line.
LOL! So, now it’s “extremist and doctrinaire” to insist that spending on high-priority projects should be funded by cuts in low-priority projects (instead of Tax Hike Mike’s preferred method of, well, tax hikes).
Those of us who have known the Huckster since college, have had family in the churches he pastored, have socialized with him, and have suffered under his liberal actions as governor for most of his 10 year history, know him for what he is, much better than someone spouting off his latest talking points.
"Low-priority" denotes a priority. Also, it takes the passage of legislation, to eliminate state programs. Arkansas had about a 6:1 Democrat majority.
Furthermore, the Arkansas Constitution requires a balanced budget (or a surplus). At the end of his tenure as Governor, Arkansas incurred a surplus. Mike Huckabee suggested it go to elimination of sales tax on food.
Keep on digging though, if you need.
And exactly how close of an association do you have, personally?
Mike Huckabee gets great support by those conservatives who have known him.
I'll just stick with Huck's record. And McCain's for that matter.
That's why my Presidential vote will be a 3rd party candidate, probably the Constitution Party.
And your charges cite no references and thus are baseless as presented. Baseless charges, intended to impugn the character of a person are repugnant gossip.
This new repetition is beginning to look like someone's set of talking points.
By this reasoning, no government program can be cut, ever. Well, I suppose that fits the "Compassionate Conservate"[sic] worldview declared in your profile.
Also, it takes the passage of legislation, to eliminate state programs. Arkansas had about a 6:1 Democrat majority.
That would be relevant if the Huckster had tried and failed to pay for spending increases in one are with spending cuts in other areas. Huckster made no attempt to do anything but raise taxes -- as his first resort.
Furthermore, the Arkansas Constitution requires a balanced budget (or a surplus).
This has no bearing on the question of whether to balance spending increases with spending cuts elsewhere, or by raising taxes. That is a matter of political preference. Huckster's political preference was to raise taxes.
This new repetition is beginning to look like someone's set of talking points.
Somebody who refers to the basic principles of fiscal conservatism as "someone's set of talking points" isn't going to garner much respect in these parts.
See the lead in this piece. Almost fifty percent, off the welfare roles. He also lead in the movement toward creating the Arkansas Property Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.
Now (as with Reagan's presidency) there may have been further areas where government spending should have been cut; I don't know. I did not say that Gov. Huckabee was perfect. However, he was an excellent, conservative governor.
I am the columnist who wrote this editorial and I wanted to say first of all, thanks for reading it and taking the time to comment. There is a lot of great dialog here. I just want to make a few comments to clarify the what and why of what I wrote.
First, everyone must understand what this was. It was a primer of all candidates that were still running as of the Wisconsin primary. Romney had already dropped out and given the choice between McCain and Huckabee, I stand by my position that, given the context, Huckabee was the more conservative choice. I agree that there are plenty of knocks against him, and that he is certainly not William F. Buckley or Ronald Reagan - may they both rest in peace.
Second, with Romney just out of the race, there was a chance that conservatives could all rally around Huckabee against McCain. Even if Huckabee did not win, he would force McCain back to the right on this campaign, which is certainly true. I don’t believe McCain’s rhetorical conservatism will matter much if he wins the presidency, but even McCain is better than Obama or Clinton if that is the only choice left.
Last, there have been a lot of comments about the word trust. I’m not sure how many of you know this, but the editorial page editor writes the title for the column. I would not have picked the stated title.
The only time I used the word trust was in regard to 2nd amendment rights. Huckabee has a long history of wholly supporting gun owners like myself and I also stand by that. I want to be clear that I agree with others on this list who say there isn’t a politician in the world they would trust, and I agree wholeheartedly. There are many things I would not trust about Mike Huckabee - especially a supply side flat tax.
As pointed out, its all moot now. I just wanted you to know that I listened to your comments and appreciate them all.
Sincerely,
Tim Dotson
Hey, Tim.
Thank you first for doing what you're doing with the MJS, then for this article, and last but maybe not too far least, thanks for logging in at FreeRepublic.com!
Not even Buckley and Reagan were quite Gideon on the trumpet, either and I agree with your good sentiments. This article continues along the points you made in your column. Club for Growth's Romney-backer backed 527 and the Cato Institute went over and above the call of credibility in their attacks Huckabee over the last year or two and it is taking quite an effort to provide an accurate view. The good governor now has a chance to be a force for people of conscience and American principles into the future, one way or another.
As O'Reilly says, FR is kind of an unruly bunch -- we could show more ability for self-governance, alright -- but we're the most dynamic meeting place for conservative Americans around. Please do check in on the site from time to time (it may get to be addictive, though). When I was doing a bit of a column, I found it quite helpful. And sometimes FR gets the scoop -- just ask Dan Rather. Feel free to 'ping.'
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